Watarirouka Hashiritai 7’s ninth single is Kibou Sanmyaku. This is an energetic song that is strangely appropriate for raucous drinking sessions or celebration. I mentioned in my review of Shounen yo Uso wo Tsuke that this song reminds me a lot of this classic:

Yup, the perfect idol themed drinking song if I ever heard one. The video even takes place in an izakaya type establishment so if that ain’t an endorsement for getting shitfaced while listening to this I don’t know what is.

This song hooks you from the first note with its festive feel and doesn’t let up during the four minutes or so that it runs. The chorus is probably one of the more sing-songy types I have heard from the AKB sub unit camp.

I would consider this a track that you should be cranking out at say a BBQ or house party once everyone is good and sauced. By then no one should have a clue what’s going on right? And it would be funny to see non-Japanese speakers try to mimic the chorus.

The b-sides are an assorted variety spread throughout the various versions of the single. The ones to take note of are Inugo Wo Hanaseru Otokonoko and Saru no Cymbal.

I did not expect to hear dog sounds in an idol song but given that the word for dog is in the title I shouldn’t be that surprised should I? There’s nothing else special about the track unfortunately since it follows the standard AKB idol pop formula.

Saru no Cymbal is a more natural fit with the a-side as it shares the same type of feel and sound. It’s not as bombastic but there are elements that hook you in just the same.

An honorable mention will go to Koi wa Shinpaishou for being the only song that isn’t an all out idol pop assault. Instead, it’s a rather calming mid-tempo track whose only drawback is that it’s kind of full of squeak. Given the vocal makeup of this group that should be the case.

This probably isn’t the strongest collection of songs and if you had to choose just one or two package Type A and the regular edition are your safest selections.